Gallery: Drawing Tinnitus
As part of my Masters in Applied Positive Psychology studies I used art-based research to explore anxiety as an emotional reaction to tinnitus. These illustrations form part of my discoveries, how tinnitus affected me and how I reacted to tinnitus. It also shows how I discovered that I could manage tinnitus by understanding and changing my emotional reactions to it.
The British Tinnitus Association explain subjective tinnitus as, "the perception of noises in the head and/or ears which have no external source" a "symptom generated within the auditory system". Visit www.tinnitus.org for further information. Also my audiologist have further information which is helpful https://www.helpinhearing.co.uk/home/hearing-health/tinnitus-explained/
I am a member of the South Bucks Tinnitus Support Group and recently ran a workshop called Drawing Tinnitus for 12 participants, which you can read about here,
https://www.helpinhearing.co.uk/tinnitus-summer-art-workshop/
2 Testimonials:
“Thank you for a very informative and interesting morning. Driving home, I felt very relaxed in my shoulders and my tinnitus was barely audible.”
“It was very interesting – whilst I was doing art I was not aware of [my] tinnitus at all. I think if you’d have asked me out of 10 what it was at the start and at the end – the score would have been different!”
Neuroscientists have linked several brain regions with emotional responses to sound and the Amygdala region in particular processes memory and emotional reactions. Tinnitus and Anxiety are often linked as anxiety can make tinnitus harder to cope with and also tinnitus can create anxiety. When we are anxious our hearing becomes more sensitive as we listen out for threats and danger. We have " heightened perception of amplified hearing" (Kashdan and Diener, 2014) .When we don't feel safe we are more sensitive to hearing tinnitus. This is why it is important to relax, let go and keep calm.
Drawing was a way of both investigating my reactions to tinnitus and also to see if this activity could help. I believe that expressing my anxiety through drawing gave me a healthy outlet in which to express my emotions, creating a positive affect enabling me to cope better with tinnitus. I learnt to not fear tinnitus and expressive drawing helped me to accept it leading to better tinnitus management.
My main discovery was that I couldn't control tinnitus and not to fear it. Instead I learnt to regulate my emotional reactions, by choosing how I reacted to it.
For any further information please contact me at debbiejaneperry@gmail.com
All artwork is subject to copyright.